James Anderson of Depher: ‘Hero’ plumber’s firm faked stories

The firm run by a man dubbed “Britain’s kindest plumber” faked stories of helping people as it raised millions in donations, the BBC can reveal.

Depher, a social enterprise, used vulnerable people’s photos without consent and founder James Anderson spent company cash on a house and car.

Mr Anderson prevented one elderly woman from killing herself, the firm claimed. In fact, she had died years earlier.

He denied some of the BBC’s allegations but admitted: “I’ve made mistakes.”

Since 2019, Depher has posted hundreds of stories about acts of kindness it says it has carried out.

It is a Community Interest Company (CIC) – as such it operates in the same way as a limited company, but it also provides a defined public benefit, such as providing a direct service to a community or using its profits to benefit a community in some way.

The Burnley-based firm has helped many people by using donations to provide free food, pay gas and electricity bills, do free plumbing work and even help with funeral costs.

The social media stories made him a viral sensation during the UK’s cost-of-living crisis and brought in at least £2m in donations, according to a BBC analysis of his company accounts.

Among the donors were, reportedly, celebrities such as the singer Lily Allen, Emmerdale actress Samantha Giles and actor Hugh Grant, who gave £75,000.

Mr Anderson has received letters of thanks from the late Queen and the King and a Pride of Manchester award. He has been a guest on Good Morning Britain, BBC Breakfast, The One Show, Sky News and the Russell Howard Show, and described as “Britain’s kindest plumber” or a “hero plumber”.